Strawberry plant named &#39;NSG 203&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘NSG 203’, is provided which forms in abundance attractive early-season ripening large, medium red generally conical fruit having firm flesh that is longer than broad in configuration. A medium to high vigor is exhibited. The growth habit is dense, semi-upright and globose. White inflorescence is displayed. Commonly a calyx is displayed which is substantially bigger to the diameter of the corolla when open. The new variety is particularly well suited for the commercial industry.

Botanical/commercial classification: Latin name—Fragaria x ananassaDuchesne. Common name—Strawberry Plant.

Varietal denomination: ‘NSG 203’.

CROSS-REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Plant Breeder's Rights ApplicationNumber 2018/0923 which was filed in European Union through CommunityPlant Variety Office on Apr. 3, 2018, of which the content of is herebyexpressly incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct short-day strawberry plant variety of the presentinvention was the product of a controlled breeding program that wascarried out at Nova Siri (MT) Italy located at 40° 08′ 40″ N-16° 39′ 40″E and 10 meters above sea level, wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) wasthe CHARLENE variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,220 P3 and European UnionCommunity Plant Variety Rights No. 45319), which is a strawberryshort-day variety plant with medium-season yield and produces fruit withhigh contents of sugar. The male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was theNSG 1117 variety (non-patented in the United States and European UnionCommunity Plant Variety Rights Application No. 2016/1694), which is astrawberry short-day variety with early-season ripening, produces bigfruits, good yield and presents good tolerance to infection in plants byPytophthora cactorum and Colletotrichum acutaturn.

The parentage can be summarized as follows:

‘CHARLENE’ x ‘NSG 1117’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically different from each other.Selective study and testing resulted in the identification of a singleshort-day strawberry plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new strawberry plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits medium to high vigor and a dense, semi upright        globose growth habit,    -   (b) displays, on an early basis, white inflorescence at a level        generally above the foliage,    -   (c) commonly displays a calyx that is substantially bigger to        the diameter of the corolla when open,    -   (d) forms in abundance attractive early-ripening large, medium        red generally conical fruit having firm flesh that is longer        than broad in configuration, and    -   (e) exhibits a good tolerance to infection by soil fungus.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Thenew variety possesses characteristics that commonly are sought bycommercial strawberry growers. For example, the new variety providesuniform attractive firm medium red early-ripening fruit in good yields.Accordingly, the new variety is considered promising for commercialintroduction. The new variety requires an induction period forflowering. This may be achieved by growing in a colder climate away fromthe equator or at a higher altitude above sea level.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Morespecifically, the ‘CHARLENE’ variety (i.e., the seed parent) displaysgenerally conical shape fruit which is darker in external color comparedto the generally conical, slightly rhomboid, shape fruit of the newvariety. Specifically, ‘CHARLENE’ displays fruit with an external colorcommonly near Red Group 45B to Red Group 46A, whereas the new varietydisplays fruit with an external color commonly near Red Group 44A to RedGroup 45B. Additionally, the ‘NSG 1117’ variety (i.e., the pollenparent) provides flowers which are smaller than the new variety.Specifically, the ‘NSG 1117’ variety exhibits flowers which areapproximately 26 mm to 35 mm in diameter, whereas the new varietyexhibits flowers which are approximately 37 mm to 47 mm in diameter.

Moreover, the new variety can be readily distinguished from non-parentalrelated similar varieties. For example, the ‘MELISSA’ variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 28,081P3 and European Union Community Plant VarietyRights No. 45318) provides shorter and fruit that is darker and slightlyuneven in color compared to the fruit of the new variety. Specifically,‘MELISSA’ provides fruit with a slightly uneven external color commonlynear Red Group 45B to Red Group 46B, whereas the new variety providesfruit with an even external color commonly near Red Group 44A to RedGroup 45B.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Polandand Italy by a number of routes, including by use of stolons and invitro tissue culture. Specifically, the new variety has been asexuallyreproduced by the use of stolons at Zielona Gora-Ochla, Poland locatedat 51° 848 N-15° 447 E and at Nova Siri (MT) Italy by in vitro tissueculture. No rotting problems were observed on the roots duringcultivation. The combination of characteristics exhibited by the newvariety has been found to be stable and reliably transmitted tosucceeding generations following such asexual reproduction. Accordingly,the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type mannerby such asexual reproduction.

The new variety has been named ‘NSG 203’. The new plant varietyinitially was designated as EE14 P 14 203.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The illustrated strawberry plantsof the new variety were asexually reproduced by stolons during summertime in Ochla, Poland and were planted under the cover of plastictunnels during mid-October 2017 at Nova Siri (MT), Italy.

FIG. 1—illustrates a semi-upright flowering plant on Feb. 10, 2018,where newly formed flowers are commonly disposed above the foliage andnumerous early fruit are in the ripening process.

FIG. 2—illustrates a row of fruiting plants on Feb. 8, 2018, whereinuniform plants and abundant fruit production is apparent.

FIG. 3—illustrates a row of fruiting plants on Mar. 15, 2018, whereinmedium to high vigor plants and uniform production in a successiveformation of flowers and very uniform conical red fruits are present.

FIG. 4—illustrates specimens of three-leaflet leaves—whole leaves,wherein the petioles and stipules are further apparent (designate inimages as EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimeters and inches areincluded.

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a typical three-leaflet leaf—uppersurface (designate in image as EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimetersand inches are included.

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of a typical three-leaflet leaf—undersurface (designate in image as EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimetersand inches are included.

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of a terminal leaflet (left) and a lateralleaflet (right)—upper surface (designate in image as EE14.P.14.203).Dimensions in centimeters and inches are included.

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a terminal leaflet (left) and a lateralleaflet (right)—under surface (designate in image as EE14.P.14.203).Dimensions in centimeters and inches are included.

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of an inflorescence (designate in image as

EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimeters and inches are included.

FIG. 10—illustrates specimens of corolla—top view, close view (designatein image as EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimeters and inches areincluded.

FIG. 11—illustrates specimens of calyx—under surface, close view(designate in image as EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimeters andinches are included.

FIG. 12—illustrates specimens of petals of the flowers (designate inimage as EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimeters and inches areincluded.

FIG. 13—illustrates specimens of mature fruit—whole (designate in imageas

EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimeters and inches are included.

FIG. 14—illustrates specimens of mature fruit—internal sections(designate in image as EE14.P.14.203). Dimensions in centimeters andinches are included.

FIG. 15—illustrates specimen of runners (stolons) on Aug. 15, 2018.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (“R.H.S.” Colour Chart), London, England, EditionV. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has been addedto indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. Thedescription is based on plants which were reproduced asexually by theuse of stolons in open field at Zielona Gora, Poland located at 51° 848N-15° 447 E and growing under the cover of plastic tunnels at Nova Siri(MT) Italy located at 40°08′ 40″ N-16° 39′ 40″ E and 10 meters above sealevel.

-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Short-day.        -   Configuration.—Semi-upright and dense.        -   Vigor.—Medium to high.        -   Leaf.—Approximately 23 cm to 33 cm in length on average,            including the petiole.        -   Leaflets.—Number commonly 3. — size: medium in size,            approximately 9 cm to 10.5 cm in length on average for            terminal leaflets, and approximately 8.5 cm to 9.5 cm in            width on average for terminal leaflets. — terminal leaflet:            commonly moderately longer in length than width, possesses a            concave cross-section, a crenate margin, and an obtuse base.            — blistering: commonly is weak to medium in quantity. —            glossiness on the upper surface: medium. — color: variegated            coloration commonly is absent; upper surface coloration            commonly being near Green Group N141A to Green Group N141B;            and under surface commonly being near Green Group 138C to            Green Group 139C.        -   Stolons.—High in quantity, some weak anthocyanin coloration            of commonly near Red-Purple Group 65C to Red-Purple Group            65D, and the distance between plants rooted in the same            stolon is approximately 35 cm to 43 cm on average.        -   Petioles.—Medium to long, approximately 18 cm to 23 cm in            length on average, color is commonly near Yellow-Green Group            N144C to Yellow-Green Group N144B, and commonly bear            generally horizontally disposed fine pubescence.        -   Stipules.—Approximately 2.2 cm to 3.1 cm in length on            average, and commonly bear some weak anthocyanin coloration            of near Red-Purple Group 68D to Red-Purple Group 69A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering time.—Early.        -   Flower disposition.—Generally slightly above the foliage.        -   Flower number.—Medium, commonly 4 to 6.        -   Pedicel hairs.—Pubescence generally disposed somewhat            upwards.        -   Pedicel color.—Commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144C to            Yellow-Green Group 144D.        -   Flower size.—Medium to large, with primary flowers            approximately 3.7 cm to 4.7 cm in diameter on average, and            secondary flowers approximately 3.0 cm to 4.2 cm in diameter            on average, commonly the open calyx is substantially larger            in diameter than the diameter than the corolla.        -   Petals.—Number approximately 6 to 8 on average. —            arrangement and shape: overlapping, somewhat rounded            overall, commonly the length is equal to the width, and            rounded apex. — size: approximately 1.2 cm to 1.3 cm on            average in length and width on average; approximately 1.4 cm            on average in length and width in primary flowers and            approximately 1.1 cm in length and width in secondary            flowers. — color: commonly near White Group N155C.        -   Anthers.—Number is approximately 26 to 30 on average,            commonly disposed below the pistils, and color is commonly            near Yellow Group 9A to Yellow Group 9B.        -   Pollen.—In abundance.        -   Sepals.—Shape: generally lanceolate in configuration,            generally somewhat outwardly disposed. — number:            approximately 12 to 14 on average. — size: approximately 1.5            cm to 2.4 cm in length on average, and approximately 5 mm to            8 mm in width on average at the broadest point. — color: the            upper surface is commonly near Green Group 143C to Green            Group 143D and the under surface is commonly near Green            Group 141C.-   Fruit:    -   -   Bearing.—Non-remontant.        -   Timing.—Early fruiting commonly with approximately 25 to 30            days from first blooming to first fruit ripening.        -   Shape.—Generally conical, slightly rhomboid, longer than            broad, commonly with a slight difference between terminal            and other fruits.        -   Size.—Medium to large, with the primary fruit approximately            6.0 cm to 7.2 cm in length on average; approximately 3.9 cm            to 4.2 cm in width on average at the broadest point; and            approximately 23 grams on average.        -   Surface.—Generally smooth texture with strong glossiness.        -   External color.—Substantially uniform commonly near Red            Group 44A to Red Group 45B.        -   Internal color.—Flesh is commonly near Red Group 40A to Red            Group 41B, and the core is commonly near Orange-Red Group            34A to Orange-Red Group 32A.        -   Firmness.—Firm to very firm.        -   Cavity.—Absent or small fruit cavity, as illustrated in FIG.            14.        -   Achenes.—Located generally below the fruit surface and cover            nearly the entire fruit surface commonly with only a very            narrow band (if any) where achenes are absent, and commonly            going from near Orange Group 25B to Red Group 45B in            coloration.        -   Calyx.—Commonly the fruit is raised at the point of            attachment, the calyx commonly attaches to the fruit with            strong adherence, the sepals are disposed generally            outwards, and the calyx diameter when open in relation to            diameter of fruit is commonly slightly bigger.        -   Peduncle.—Long, approximately 25 cm to 38 cm in length on            average for primary fruit, and color is commonly near            Yellow-Green Group N144B to Yellow-Green Group 144C.        -   Pedicel.—Commonly with pubescence extending upwards, and            color is commonly near Yellow-Green Group N144C.-   Development:    -   -   Fertilization.—Self-fertile.        -   Resistance to disease.—During observations to date, the            fruit of the new variety has shown mild sensitivity to            Powdery Mildew after a rain period, no sensitivities to any            other diseases were observed.

Plants of the ‘NSG 203’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

SUPPLEMENTAL COMPARATIVE DATA

Hereafter, additional comparative fruit data is provided for the newvariety, the ‘CHARLENE’ variety (i.e., the female variety), the ‘NSG1117’ variety (i.e., the male parent), and the ‘MELISSA’ variety. Theplants were asexually reproduced by the use of stolons in 2017 atZielona Gora-Ochla, Poland located at 51° 848 N-15° 447 E, and plantedin field on Oct. 15, 2017. All varieties were grown under the cover ofplastic tunnels at Nova Siri (MT) Italy located at 40° 08′ 40″ N-16° 39′40″ E (10 meters above sea level). The fruit were evaluated and comparedon the dates indicated. Average data is as follow:

TABLE 1 Accumulated Production of First Quality Fruit (g/plant) On year2018 at Nova Siri—Italy Plant February 30^(th) March 30^(th) April30^(th) May 20^(th) ‘NSG 203’ 70 296 657 754 ‘CHARLENE’ 45 170 390 595‘NSG 1117’ 24 195 405 600 ‘MELISSA’ 73 227 478 672

TABLE 2 Overall Comparison of Average Fruit Weigh in Nova Siri—Italy onyear 2018 Plant g/fruit ‘NSG 203’ 23 ‘CHARLENE’ 22 ‘NSG 1117’ 24‘MELISSA’ 26

TABLE 3 Average Fruit Weight on Specified Dates March 30^(th) April30^(th) May 18^(th) Plant (grams) (grams) (grams) ‘NSG 203’ 25 23 22‘CHARLENE’ 24 22 19 ‘NSG 1117’ 25 24 23 ‘MELISSA’ 25 26 22

TABLE 4 Fruit Analysis on May 30, 2018 ‘NSG 203’ ‘CHARLENE’ ‘NSG 1117’‘MELISSA’ Firmness (average)* 0.75 0.74 077 0.75 Dry Matter (%)** 8.248.50 8.25 8.25 pH (to 20°) 3.40 3.80 3.60 3.93 Acidity as AnhydrideCitric (%) 0.83 0.70 0.69 0.60 Soluble Solids (% Brix) 8.00 8.80 7.609.00 Maturity Index *** 9.70 12.57 11.01 15.00 *Resistance topenetration measured in kilograms using a Turoni (Italy) pentrometer (20Kg × 0.01). **Weight of residue from the titration of the fruit afterdrying at 103° C. until is achieved a constant weight. ***Relationbetween soluble solids and acidity as acetic anhydride.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits medium to highvigor and a dense, semi upright globose growth habit, (b) displays, onan early basis, white inflorescence at a level generally above thefoliage, (c) commonly displays a calyx that is substantially bigger tothe diameter of the corolla when open, (d) forms in abundance attractiveearly-ripening large, medium red generally conical fruit having firmflesh that is longer than broad in configuration, and (e) exhibits agood tolerance to infection by soil fungus; substantially as hereinshown and described.